Green Flash Reveals 2017 Craft Beer Lineup And Other Plans

A Blonde debuts, a DIPA returns and shipping from VA begins.

Green Flash Brewing Co. has announced plans for their 2017 craft beer lineup. To the delight of hopheads everywhere, hop heavyweight, Palate Wrecker Imperial IPA, will make a limited return, both in 6-packs and on draft, beginning in February.

The brand will also introduce GFB Blonde Ale, a crowd-pleasing and drinkable new option, which will be available on draft in January, followed by cans in the Spring, with plans to release bottles in 2018.

Most notably, Green Flash is now producing and shipping beers from both the San Diego and Virginia Beach breweries. They will continue production of all front-line beers released in 2016, as well as rotate several new limited-release offerings into the mix from Green Flash Cellar 3 throughout 2017.

Introducing GFB Blonde Ale

Courtesy Green Flash

Available in January on draft and in cans this Spring, GFB is 4.8% ABV and features packaging that offers a distinctly different look for the brand.

“GFB will round out our portfolio, offering our customers a high-quality, easy-drinking option” explained Green Flash Co-Founder and CEO, Mike Hinkley. “It is full of Green Flash character, and perfect for when beer is part of the occasion but not the center of it – like in a pitcher at a bowling alley, in cans at the beach, or filling the cooler on game day.”

Clean and simple, the GFB tap-handles and labels convey the inspiration behind the beer and the quality of the brand, without the cues to analyze and document each drinking experience.

“GFB is definitely a departure for us,” said Green Flash Brewmaster, Erik Jensen. “We tried several malt bills and experimented with different hops to come up with what I think is an interesting and drinkable Blonde Ale with fruity hop-character and a nice malty flavor. It’s become a go-to for when I want a few tasty, crushable beers.”

The Return of Palate Wrecker

Courtesy Green Flash

Palate Wrecker is a hop-forward Imperial IPA which was first introduced to celebrate the anniversary of popular San Diego watering hole, Hamilton’s Tavern. Due to its complex brewing process, Palate Wrecker production was put on hold to make room to introduce several new beers in 2016. The beer has a huge cult-following, and diehards have been clamoring to find out when the beer will be back in rotation.

“Palate Wrecker will always be part of Green Flash, but we can only produce it every so often because the crazy process used to make the beer chokes down our brewery’s capacity,” explained Mike Hinkley. “Bringing on Virginia Beach production capacity provided our brewers the opportunity for Palate Wrecker to get back to the business of wrecking palates.”

Palate Wrecker will be brewed at both breweries, to ensure the freshest batches of this IPA are available to consumers on each coast. It will be released for a limited-time-only in February, and will be sold in 6-packs (a first time configuration for this 9.5% brew) and on draft.

The 2017 Lineup – Now Brewing On Both Coasts

The following beers will be returning to the Green Flash national lineup in 2017: West Coast IPA, Soul Style IPA (available in cans and bottles), Tangerine Soul Style IPA, Passion Fruit Kicker Wheat Ale, Cosmic Ristretto Baltic Porter with Espresso, Dia de los Serranos Double Stout with Serrano Chiles, Imperial IPA, and Le Freak Belgian Style Imperial IPA, as well as year round can releases – Jibe Session IPA, Sea to Sea Zwickel Lager. The 2017 Green Flash Cellar 3 lineup of rare and barrel-aged beers includes a dozen new and returning products, which are available nationally on a limited-release basis.

Green Flash brewed more than 90,000 BBLS in 2016. Operating two facilities in 2017 presents new opportunities and new challenges, which they are prepared to meet by being relentless in their pursuit of quality and character.

“Now that we have brewery operations on both coasts, our ability to provide fresh, great tasting beers to customers both east and west of the Mississippi has vastly increased.” said Chris Ross, Green Flash COO. “We are armed with a very strong 2017 lineup, and will be focused on continuing our double digit sales growth across all national retail outlets.”

About Green Flash Brewing Co.

Green Flash Brewing Co. is headquartered in San Diego, California, and was established in 2002 by co-founders Mike and Lisa Hinkley. Brewmaster, Erik Jensen, leads brewing operations. Green Flash is an award-winning brewer of fine, craft ales, and specializes in brewing assertive and distinctive beers, such as nationally acclaimed West Coast IPA: an award-winning beer whose wide acceptance has helped define a category. In 2016, Green Flash opened a full-scale brewing facility in Virginia Beach, VA and all Green Flash beers are available nationwide. Green Flash is available in bottles and on draft nationally – offerings include a growing lineup of seasonal and limited release ales, including several barrel-aged beers from their Cellar 3 series.